Aaron Hollander

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
First Aviation Services Inc.
Tel: (203) 291-7700
Email: ahollander@firstaviation.com

Aaron P. Hollander has combined his passion for aerospace, motor sports and business during his career.  As principal, he has led the growth of several aviation, defense, and motor sports companies. Today Mr. Hollander is Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of First Aviation Services Inc. which he co-founded in 1995 as a leading provider of repair and overhaul services to the aviation industry worldwide. First Aviation’s principal operating subsidiaries are Aerospace Turbine Rotables, Inc., Aviation Blade Services, Inc., Associated Aircraft Manufacturing & Sales, Inc., Evōlution Aerospace, Inc., Piedmont Propulsion Systems LLC and Saint Technologies Inc. From December 2001 to July 2009, Mr. Hollander also served as CEO of Skip Barber Racing School LLC and until February 2012 served as Chairman and CEO of Imtek, LLC.  Aaron Hollander co-founded First Equity Group in 1985 advising the aerospace and defense industries on some of the most significant transactions impacting those sectors. Mr. Hollander held SEC Series 7, 63, 24 and 27.

Prior to co-founding First Equity, Mr. Hollander worked for the Boston Consulting Group, and as a CPA and CMA with Arthur Young & Company (now Ernst & Young).          

Mr. Hollander holds an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATP) with instrument, multi-engine, helicopter, seaplane, and glider, and type ratings for Learjet 25/35/55, Lear 40/45, Embraer Phenom 100 and Citation CE-510S.  He has been a speaker at various aerospace industry conferences, including the National Business Aircraft Association, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Federal Aviation Administration and is a life member of the National Aeronautics Association. 

Mr. Hollander received his B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and earned an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School, where he was the Copeland Award recipient.

Mr. Hollander has been on the board of directors or served in a volunteer capacity for numerous not-for-profit organizations including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the American Red Cross and the Boy Scouts of America, Yankee Council where he was awarded the Silver Beaver.  Mr. Hollander served as the Chairman of both Greenwich Chapter of the World Presidents’ Organization (WPO) and the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and was past Chairman of the Aviation Network. Mr. Hollander currently serves as a Trustee of the Yale-New Haven Health System.  Mr. Hollander is a Director of Tango Flight Inc., a non-profit dedicated to bringing hands on STEM programs to schools.

Joshua Krotec

Executive Director
First Aviation Services Inc.
Tel: (203) 291-7700
Email: jkrotec@firstaviation.com

Joshua T. Krotec is Executive Director of the First Equity Group (FEG) and leads corporate strategic initiatives including merger, acquisition and other corporate development projects for FEG and its principal holdings, including First Aviation Services Inc.   Josh also serves on the Board of Directors of First Aviation affiliate PropWorks Propeller Systems Ltd.  Prior to FEG’s sale of DART Aerospace Ltd., Josh served on DART’s Board of Directors.

Based on his experience working with the United States Government and his knowledge of the aviation industry, Josh has served President of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), and currently services on the Board of Directors of ARSA and, separately, the Modification and Replacement Parts Association (MARPA).  Josh has also been appointed by Secretary of Commerce and United States Trade Representative to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Aerospace Equipment.    Josh has also been selected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to serve as Industry Chairman of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) Aviation Rulemaking Committee, a 32-month assignment tasked with resolving nearly four decades of debate over FAA’s ICA regulation, policy and guidance.  Josh previously served as a member of the Associate Member Council of the Regional Airline Association (RAA), and as Chairman of ARSA’s Government Affairs Committee.

In 2016, Josh was recognized as a “Top 40 under 40” / Next Generation Aviation Maintenance Professional of the Year by Aircraft Maintenance Technology magazine.  Similarly, under Josh’s leadership, First Aviation Services Inc. was named the “MRO of the Year – Military Center of Excellence” by the editors of Aviation Week & Space Technology.

Prior to First Aviation’s March 2013 divestiture of Aerospace Products International, Inc. (API), Josh was also responsible for API’s Supply Chain Programs business unit.  Between 2003 and 2009, Josh worked directly for API as Vice President of Supply Chain Programs.  Josh created API’s Program Management organization and contract management processes that have since become synonymous with high customer satisfaction and reliable delivery of supply chain performance.  Under Josh’s leadership, API’s Supply Chain Programs business unit saw tremendous profitability and phenomenal growth.  Business unit revenues grew to $40M from $12M in just four years, including 50% growth during the 2009 global recession.  More importantly, Josh achieved this growth by building long-term relationships with marquee aerospace industry corporations such as Honeywell Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, FedEx Express and Lufthansa.  In addition, API’s revenues from military and government customers grew from 1% to 12% between 2007 and 2010.  This new customer base diversified API’s revenues and has reduced the company’s traditional reliance on a fragmented base of small, unprofitable, GA customers. 

Prior to joining API, Josh served as an analyst and associate with First Equity Development, Inc. At First Equity, a boutique M&A advisory firm serving the aerospace industry, Josh’s responsibilities included assisting with the execution of transactions, valuation and financial analysis, market research, and project development. 

Josh holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management with Honors and Director’s List recognition from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Josh also earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics with concentrations in Finance and Accounting from Wharton, graduating Magna Cum Laude and earning Nelson Foundation and Joseph Wharton Scholarship honors. In addition, Josh holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Systems Engineering (focus in Logistics Systems) with a minor in Mathematics from the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania. Josh also worked in the Department of Finance at The Wharton School where his research led to publications in the field of investment management and trading.

Josh holds Commercial Pilot and Remote Pilot airman certificates with EMB-500, CE-510(S), single-engine, multi-engine and instrument airplane ratings.  Josh resides in Wilmington, Delaware, USA.